“’Tis going to happen again, aye?” he eventually said softly, looking at Julie. “Someone is going to die just like Regent Thomas did.” His worried gaze flickered from Chloe to Julie. “That is why Chloe is here. Because something is about to happen.”
Chloe’s heart broke for the boy. Not only had he lost his parents at such a young age, and been thrust onto a throne others meant to kill him for, but he’d lost Regent Thomas Moray. A man who had cared a great deal for him. Julie was about to answer, but Chloe spoke first, wanting David to understand how much she cared because she really did.
She also felt he deserved honesty.
“Yes, something is going to happen, David.” She crouched in front of him and took his hand. “And when it does, I promise you that Aidan and I are going to protect you alongside Julie, Tiernan, and Cray.”
“With a unicorn?” he murmured, hopeful.
“Maybe.” She smiled, not sure it would appear on her adventure like it had Julie’s. She could, however, make something else appear that might give him comfort. “Though I know for sure a faery will.” She cocked her head. “Have you ever heard of faeries?”
“Mayhap a wee bit in a tale or two.” He frowned. “But faery’s arenae protectors of Scotland and its true king like unicorns are.”
“How do you know?” Sensing this was the right thing to do, she embraced the sensation she had felt when she’d wanted to protect the possessed men. Luckily, her vision began to sparkle. “I am half faery and would die to protect both Scotland andyou, the true king.”
“It glows!” He touched her cheek in wonder then looked at her eyes in awe, not frightened in the least. “And your eyes sparkle.”
“That’s right.” She smiled. “That’s my inner faery. My very power.” She squeezed his hand gently in reassurance. “And it will only ever protect you, my king.”
She meant it when she called him her king. The journey had shown her many things, but above all, how much she loved this place. How much it felt like home. Even though she might have started her existence in Ireland, then ended up in America, her heart now belonged to Scotland.
“I believe you,” David whispered, enchanted by her. “Thank you, faery Chloe.”
She chuckled at the name and kissed his forehead before she stood. “No, thankyoufor your courage and devotion to your country, King David.”
Now, she reflected, sitting in her tent sometime later, she could only hope all went as it should, and he remained king. That he didn’t lose his life tonight. Something she feared might happen when Aidan returned, and she learned that things had just become unpredictable indeed.
“Surely, you’re mistaken,” she exclaimed.
“Nay,” he groused. “Cray has vanished into the night in a drunken rage.” He shook his head. “All who saw him claim he was mumbling about a good swim across a big river and heading in the direction of the enemy camp.”
